Weekend prep work and cooking larger meals are essential when you’re pressed for time.

Just because you’re short on time doesn’t mean you have to take unhealthy shortcuts with your diet.

Try these simple time-saving tips for keeping your diabetes diet on track, even when you’re busy.

Slice and dice on the weekend: Cut the weeknight work by peeling, chopping and portioning vegetables on the weekend. Mason jar salads also make a quick and healthy lunch option you can prepare several days in advance.

Mix-up your meals: Why not substitute foods you might normally eat for breakfast or lunch with dinnertime staples. Veggie omelettes with a bowl of oatmeal, whole-grain toast with peanut butter and fruit, or a sandwich on whole-wheat bread with chicken breast slices and sliced cucumbers are all easy-to-make healthy dinner options.

Have healthier convenience foods on hand: Don’t feel like cooking tonight? Store vegetables and fruit in your freezer, and keep low-sodium canned foods like tuna, beans and legumes in your pantry. These ingredients can always be thrown together to make a quick vegetable stir-fry, open-faced tuna sandwich or nutritious bean salad.

Get more bang for your buck: When you do have time to cook, double or triple your recipes so you can store leftovers in the fridge or freezer for quick meals. Foods like brown rice, chili, puréed soups and quinoa dishes can be stored in the fridge for days, or frozen for up to three months.